Pay P70 million for cleanup, compensation, Princess owner told

MANILA, Philippines — The owner of the sunken M/T Princess Empress should release P70 million to finance the cleanup of areas affected by the oil spill and compensate affected residents, according to an environmental group.

In a radio interview, Protect Verde Island Passage Network lead convenor Edwin Gariguez cited the statement of the Philippine Coast Guard that aside from the $1 billion insurance of the vessel, an existing memorandum provides P50 million for cleanup and P20 million for damages.

Gariguez accused the owner of Princess Empress of deceiving residents of Oriental Mindoro and other affected areas by not mentioning the P70 million funding.

“The owner is deceiving the people of Mindoro by asking them to sign a waiver in exchange for the insurance claim,” he said.

Gariguez said their group would provide lawyers to the municipal government of Pola in the filing of charges against the owner of the oil tanker.

Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz said she is bent on filing a case against the owner of Princess Empress, noting that the municipal government has not received any assistance.

”In the first place, we cannot bargain if there is no case filed against them,” Cruz said.